Photojournalism is a way of telling a story by the use of pictures. The story can be told with a series of many pictures or encompassed within a single image. The more powerful the image and story, the better the picture is at it's purpose, even if technically it is not perfect. The story is what is important, not the technical merit of the picture - so a capture that is blurred or has blown out highlights for example, is a better photojournalism picture if it catches the definitive moment, than one which is perfectly in focus and exposed, but misses the moment. Obviously, to have all the elements in place is best.

The Photo Agency 7 defines photojournalism as a "medium which can be used in what are intended as interpretively neutral ways to document life as it is. It can also be a vehicle for political, social, and personal statements. In many cases, the lines between objectivity and subjectivity, fact and attitude, are impossible to distinguish"

For the purpose of exhibition entries, there are a few rules which need to be followed. The PSA states "Photojournalism images shall consist of pictures or sequences with informative content and emotional impact, including human interest, documentary, and spot news. The journalistic value of the photograph shall be considered over pictorial quality. In the interest of credibility, photographs which misrepresent the truth, such as manipulation to alter the subject matter, or situations which are set up for the purpose of photography, are unacceptable in photojournalism. Human interest images depict a person or persons in an interactive, emotional or unusual situation, excluding sports action." Please note sport action comes under 'Open Photojournalism'. See here for examples of human interest.
As can be seen, some photo travel or pictorial images can also be used as photojournalism, and vice-versa, providing no manipulation as stipulated above, has been used.

Noted examples of eminent photojournalists includes:

Sebastiao Salgado

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Robert Capa

Kate Willmer
Jan 2010

UPDATE 12th Feb 2010: For those who receive the PSA Journal or who have access to said journal online, please see the February 2010 issue page 37, where there is a good description of what is ethically acceptable in PJ. It also admonishes photographers to be honest and responsible, and to show integrity.

GW
Feb 2010